Keep politics out of Olympics coverage

Wednesday

Feb 26, 2014 at 12:01 AMFeb 27, 2014 at 10:00 AM

The Dispatch wrapped up the Winter Olympics with the Associated Press article "Russians exult in Sochi grand finale" on Monday. It included a political undertone that has unfortunately marred U.S. media coverage of the Games from beginning to end.

The Dispatch wrapped up the Winter Olympics with the Associated Press article ďRussians exult in Sochi grand finaleĒ on Monday. It included a political undertone that has unfortunately marred U.S. media coverage of the Games from beginning to end.

Personally I loved the games: spectacular scenery, extraordinary athletes, more-inclusive coverage than usual from NBC, excellent insights on Russian culture by Vladimir Pozner, and stunning opening and closing ceremonies. If one was not able to watch all this, my sympathies. For a short while the world really seemed a better place.

Despite the efforts of many in the United States to make these Olympics an occasion to ding Russia on human-rights issues, I agreed with Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, when he said the games are about athletes, not politics. Most Europeans regard U.S. capital-punishment laws as an egregious abuse of human rights, on a par with discrimination against gays, though with consequences more final.

Many American state legislatures are fully in accord with the Russian Orthodox Church and Russian President Vladimir Putinís stance on homosexuals. These issues and many more will continue to bedevil the world, but not, I hope, in the context of sporting events.

NBC quickly backed away from political grandstanding early on in the games. Itís a pity more in the media didnít get the message.